Grasping the Nature of Thought

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Notes on Kamma

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The Paḷi word kamma (Sanskrit karma) is taken to mean "action". In Buddhist doctrine kamma refers to any intentional mental, verbal or bodily act; that is, an act of will. The Buddha says: ‘I say that intention is kamma, because having first intended one acts with body, speech or mind.’ (Anguttara Nikaya 3.415). According to the Buddha, every intentional action modifies our consciousness, thus building our character and thereby influencing our behavior, our experience and consequently our destiny. Positive intentional actions motivated by generosity, love, and wisdom tend towards outcomes that are experienced as positive, while intentional negative actions motivated by greed, hatred and delusion tend towards outcomes experienced as negative. The doctrine of kamma is probably the most misunderstood of all the Buddha’s teachings. The four most common misunderstandings are these Everything that happens to us is the result of our past kamma. In actual fac...
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Buddhism Without Meditation in the Age of Appearances

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Mushin  "no-mind" In an era of collapsing attention spans and spiritual branding, it has become common to hear people claim the title of “Buddhist” while disavowing or bypassing the core practices of the Dharma. Meditation is often seen as optional. Dharma quotes adorn social media posts alongside self-help slogans. “Mindfulness” is marketed like a weight-loss product. But can someone truly be called a Buddhist if they do not meditate? Is compassion alone enough? The Threshold: What Makes Someone a Buddhist? In traditional Buddhism, one becomes a Buddhist by taking refuge in the Three Jewels: the Buddha (teacher), the Dharma (teaching), and the Sangha (spiritual community). This act is a conscious turning of one’s life toward liberation. In this view, practice may begin small, and perfection is not the measure — sincerity is. So yes, a person who has taken refuge, who aspires to walk the Path and live ethically — even without formal meditation — can be considered a Buddhist. ...
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Taking Responsibility for the Mind: When Meditation Gets Difficult

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Artist — Lim Chung Hee When we sit in meditation, thoughts arise. That’s not a problem—it’s natural. Thoughts, feelings, and sensations are the raw material of our practice. They are not interruptions; they are the very field in which mindfulness and insight develop. Often, a practitioner has a session that feels clear, balanced, even luminous. There may be a sense of accomplishment, ease, or emotional release. Then, perhaps the very next day, the mind shifts. A wave of negative emotions appears—anger, jealousy, anxiety, irritation, or despair. The contrast can be jarring:  “Yesterday I was calm. Today I feel poisoned.” And then comes the fork in the path. The Habitual Move: Projection For many, the default response is projection. Instead of meeting these inner states directly, we unconsciously look outward for a cause. The discomfort is disowned and relocated onto someone or something else:  “It’s because of her.” “He made me feel this way.” “They are the problem.” This is no...
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